The Press Association Diploma in Photography

This course is the ideal beginning for those setting out in a career as a professional Press photographer. The diploma is made up of six weeks’ formal training at The Press Association in Howden followed by on the job assessment. Tutors are all working photographers, picture-editors and senior journalists.

course structure

The formal training takes six weeks in which the following topics are all dealt with in detail

• The role of the Press photographer
• Photographic knowledge
• Caption writing
• Media law
• Understanding the technology

The training, by experienced professional photographers and editors, is a mix of theory and practice and culminates in assessment in caption writing, law, photographic knowledge and a completed portfolio of pictures. This portfolio consists of a range of different subjects used within newspaper photography.

The course teaches the trainees not only to be photographers – and understand the technical issues of digital photography, basic composition and lighting – but also how to be journalists. There are sessions on what makes an effective news picture, sources of pictures and understanding the readership. The Press Association photographers and picture-editors, highly experienced in all aspects of the job, offer individual guidance and tips. Caption writing, law and newspaper design, all taught by specialists, are also important parts of the course.

The technology sessions deal with digital cameras, sending pictures from remote sites, Adobe Photoshop and QuarkXPress or Adobe InDesign.

After the six-week course and assessment the trainee photographer is given a work record. He or she then collects evidence of skills in different photographic disciplines for internal and external assessment. The course leads to The Press Association Diploma in Press Photography.

how to get a place

Most trainees will be sponsored by the titles they work for but there are a limited number of available places for self-sponsored trainees. No restriction is placed on entry but candidates should have a basic knowledge in the subject and will probably be working for a local newspaper or other publication. A preliminary course of some kind, for example A-level, should have been completed.

To apply for a place on The Press Association Diploma in Press Photography, send a letter of application, your CV and examples to Lorna Chaproniere, course administrator, Press Association Training, Innovation Centre, Highfield Drive, Churchfields, St Leonards-on-Sea, East Sussex, TN38 9UH, England.

Accommodation

The courses are held at the Bishop’s Manor in Howden. The Editorial Centre can arrange reasonably priced accommodation. Details are sent to trainees once their place on the course has been confirmed.